Holocaust Educator and Auschwitz Survivor Eva Schloss Dies at 96

Eva Schloss, a survivor of Auschwitz and a passionate voice for Holocaust education, passed away on Saturday at the age of 96. As the stepsister of Anne Frank and honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust UK, Schloss’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Holocaust remembrance and the fight against antisemitism.

Born in Austria in 1929, Schloss and her family fled to Amsterdam in 1940 to escape Nazi persecution. It was there that she befriended Anne Frank—just a few doors down. Their lives, forever intertwined, took a tragic turn when both families were forced into hiding in 1942. They went into hiding on the same day, but neither family escaped the Nazi dragnet. Eva’s family was betrayed by a Dutch collaborator.

In 1944, Schloss, her parents, and her brother were deported to Auschwitz. Her father and brother were murdered. Eva and her mother survived the horrors of the camp, and after the war, they rebuilt their lives in London. In a remarkable twist of fate, Eva’s mother later married Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, making Eva Anne’s stepsister.

For more than four decades, Schloss remained silent about her experiences. It wasn’t until 1988—at a London exhibition dedicated to Anne Frank that she publicly shared her testimony. From that moment on, she became one of the most important voices in Holocaust education, particularly for younger generations.

Schloss authored three books recounting her personal journey and the lessons she believed must never be forgotten. Through her work with the Anne Frank Trust UK, she dedicated her life to challenging prejudice and discrimination by confronting the horrors of the Holocaust directly.

“We must talk about what happened,” Schloss often told students. “If we forget, it can happen again.”

Her impact extended far beyond the classroom. As antisemitism surged globally, Schloss was a steady voice, reminding the world of the darkness that unchecked hatred can unleash. Her personal connection to Anne Frank gave her message unique resonance, but it was her own story of survival, silence, and ultimately, courage that inspired so many.

A memorial event is being planned in her honor by the Anne Frank Trust UK. Though she is gone, Eva Schloss’s voice and message will continue to echo reminding us that the past must be remembered so the future can be protected.

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